You hate to play, but they’re just so darn good that you keep coming back for the pain. We’re talking about horror games, people! Those horror games are so masterfully crafted, so beautifully done, that we forgive their devs for putting us through such psychological trauma. Be that as it may, there are some horrors where if you’re going to play them, we highly recommend that you make sure all doors, every single light is on, and that you’ve warned the people you live not to bother until you tell to (because they might get a controller to the face.
Here’s our list of horror games you should not play alone (but you’re going to because you love the rush):
Outlast Series
If these horror games didn’t make you jump out of your seat and leave the room for a break, then you’re braver than we’ll ever be. The Outlast horror games are a series of first-person survival games developed by the psyc…, I mean, by Red Barrels. These games are known for the terrifying atmosphere, brutal imagery (no kidding), and “run or die” gameplay (pretty sure they perfected it).
In all the games, except Trials, the only way for you to see a majority of the time is by using a camcorder with night vision mode on it. You have to carefully make your way through a game that’s crawling with people who think your character would make a tastier snack than anything else. Batteries will be your best and most scarce resource.
Alien: Isolation
This game is set 15 years after the first Alien (1979), and you play as Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda. She’s investigating her mom’s disappearance and ends up trapped on a, quite rapidly, decaying ship. It wouldn’t be too much of an issue if you weren’t being chased by a creature that’s a little too stab-happy with its tail (and mouth shiver). Stealth is key and any massive amounts of movement can signal your stalker and it’s GG.
So, we recommend lights on, maybe a friend for emotional support, and the whereabouts of any pets before they brush against you for affection and you cartwheel out of your chair.
Until Dawn
This horror game pays tribute to the slasher flicks that we all love. You’re playing a group of friends who are staying in a beautiful mountain lodge with a killer on the loose outside. Your job is to control the character’s choices because that will determine who lives and who dies (no pressure, right?)
Bonus! There’s a supernatural twist that’ll make you wish you had called your friends over for some pizza, It doesn’t matter that they’ll tease you for the next two years by how high your shriek went.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
When several YouTubers have said they’ve had to stop playing a game for a while before continuing, you know it’s a legit one in the horror games genre. In this horror game, you wake up in an abandoned castle (swanky) with no memory (not so swanky) with only a note telling you to kill some dude named Alexander (ok, now I’m worried).
Your health in this game is mostly based on your sanity (and the character is scared of the dark). Get too low in that department, and your mind starts playing tricks on you. Did you hear something? Better play this one with the lights on!
Resident Evil 2: Remake
This is one of the classics of classic horror games, just with more modern designs. Does that make it less scary? Ahahah, No! You can play as Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they navigate a zombie infestation in Raccoon City. Zombies aren’t the only thing to worry about, though!
Terrifying visuals and a unkillable entity known as Mr. X stalking after you, this game has horror on lock. So I would bring some spare pants, there’s a chance you’re going to be spilling something on them.
P.T.
Funnily enough, this one isn’t even a fully fledged game but it still makes the list of worst horror games to play alone. It was a playable teaser for Silent Hill, created by the masterminds of thrillers and horrors themselves, Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro.
You’re trapped in an endless hallway, constantly looping, with endless ghostly whispers, cryptic messages (spiritual spam, lol), and one very angry spirit named Lisa. This game was short, but it hit all the points horror games should, and it is still a favorite style to emulate by other game devs. Still, I would have someone there to tell you that, yes, that sound you heard was in your game and not your real-life kitchen. This jewel is horror games goals and we recommend you try it out!
The Evil Within
Created by the same mastermind that made Resident Evil, Shinji Mikami, this game I would highly recommend you take category of all your phobias and fears before you play. This game is filled with twisted monsters, certifiable madness, and shifting realities (it makes your head spin just thinking about it).
You play as Sebastian Castellanos, who’s trying his best to figure out where to find a serial killer who makes grotesque statues out of body parts (ugh). This is somehow connected to the disappearance of his wife and daughter. It has a great storyline; just don’t eat anything too substantial before playing.
Dead By Daylight
The only multiplayer horror game on this list, but no less scary than the others. It’s one of the deadliest games of hide-and-seek you’ll ever play (imaginary please, no real life). This is a more fun horror game (if you can link fun and horror like this) where with five players, 1 is the baddie and the others need to keep from getting caught.
Iconic villains like Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger are there to scare you off, chasing you down while you scream bloody murder. It’s a good thing your friends are with you if you’re okay with possible betrayals in the future (you knew they were hiding that key item for escape!).
The Last Of Us
This emotional rollercoaster has you by the nose from the opening scene to the end of the game. We follow Joel and Ellie as they navigate the end of the world due to a nasty fungal infection (joking to make it seem less scary). We have zombies growing literally like weeds and spreading their infectious spores. (Are N95s still out of stock?). The worst thing is the evolution of these zombies; there isn’t just one type! Why would the devs make your experience an easy one! Stalkers, Bloaters, and most irritating of all, Clickers. One misstep with a Clicker and you’re back all the way to your checkpoint (which you passed an hour ago).
If you’re a fan of horror games filled with heartbreaking moments, quiet tension, and encounters that keep you so tense that you’ll probably pull a muscle at the next jump scare.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a challenge and something to do on a Saturday night (personally, I wouldn’t recommend it, but here we are), then these horror games will give you that adrenaline rush. Each one is a gold mine of tension-filled storytelling. The game mechanics of these games were created to make your job as the character harder, which makes it even more satisfying when you master them. Master the mechanics, and master the game! The jumpscares are still going to get you, though, so just be ready for them (or not give your friends a nice laugh.
Do you agree with this list of horror games you shouldn’t play alone? Or are we just weak sauce that wouldn’t know a good horror unless it jumped out from behind the bushes?
